Project TransTeam

22/07/2025

Check it out! ✅

Supporting Young Children With Disabilities Ages 3–5 Early childhood special education teachers help young children with disabilities, ages 3 to 5, build foundational learning and participation skills in early learning environments. They create individualized plans that support children with vario...

04/07/2025

DEC Stands With You! A message to all who serve and care for infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities and their families in response to the passage of H.R.1 - the reconciliation bill - by the Congress and the anticipated signing of the bill by the President on July 4, 2025.

Today, we share your feelings of sadness, grief, anger, and disbelief. We share with you a lack of understanding as to how our leaders have disregarded our calls, powerful stories, and compelling data to stop the devastating cuts to Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),and essential disability and early childhood services. We share your concern for what lies ahead for the families we serve.

We are concerned for you, for what the cuts will mean to you individually. We are concerned for the capacity of professionals in the field to provide high quality services in this new era.

We should take some time with friends and family this weekend to grieve what was. We should “breathe some” as the late Jay Turnbull would remind us.

And then, we will rise alongside you and seek new solutions, and new ways to support the incredibly important work you do.

We will say, Okay. We are ready! What now? What’s next?

What we do know:
• We will not turn from our commitment to children and families.
• We will not lose sight of the “why” of the work or the commitment to high quality.
• We will not step back from our commitment to inclusion, equity, and social justice.
• We will join you as each of us puts these commitments into practice with every action, every word, every decision.

For now, we will rely on the words of Janice Fialka. Originally written from a parent's perspective, the poem reflects where we stand this evening, professionals and families together, and where we will stand together always.

“We want only a quiet shoulder upon which to rest our heads. If you cannot give us back our sweet dream, then comfort us through this evening. Hold us. Rock us until morning light creeps in. Then we will rise and begin the work of a new day.”
– “Advice to Professionals Who Must Conference Cases" by Janice Fialka, 1997

DEC appreciates all you have done and will do! We rise together!

04/07/2025

"As plans for cutting hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid take shape in Congress and President Donald Trump’s proposed budget, parents and child health advocates are warning about collateral damage. Namely, the healthy development of young American children."

Read more about all the services Medicaid supports and how cuts could impact children: https://www.the74million.org/zero2eight/how-medicaid-cuts-could-impact-early-intervention-for-young-children/

23/06/2025

Behavior Is Communication, Not Defiance

Children never choose to be dysregulated. When they act out, melt down, or shut down, they aren't being bad—they’re sending a message that something feels too big for them to handle. Their nervous system is overwhelmed, and they’re doing the best they can with the tools they have in that moment.

Instead of seeing the behavior as something to punish, we can respond with curiosity and compassion. Ask: What are they trying to express? What do they need to feel safe again? Regulation isn’t taught through fear—it’s built through connection.

When we respond with support, not shame, we teach our children that all emotions are safe—and that help is always available.

17/06/2025

We're extremely proud of Dr. Erica Lee! ❤

Congratulations to BSC alumna, Dr. Erica Lee!

Erica was recently honored with the UAB School of Education and Human Sciences “Exemplary Alumni Award”, for her accomplishments in the field of early childhood special education.

After graduating from BSC, Erica earned a MEd, EdS, and PhD from UAB - The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Today, Erica is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Montevallo.

Forward Ever 💛🖤

17/06/2025

04/06/2025

🚨 The proposed federal budget eliminates UCEDDs — cutting vital support for people with disabilities, families, and communities nationwide. AUCD is calling on Congress to restore funding and protect disability services.

📢 Take action now: https://bit.ly/4mHAzlr

03/06/2025

The proposed budget would be detrimental to the services children with disabilities receive in schools. it takes less than a minute to share your concern using the link below. Please act now! ‼️‼️‼️

The U.S. Department of Education’s FY 2026 budget proposal eliminates key IDEA programs and preschool grants, cutting national supports for special education while claiming to increase state flexibility. These cuts would significantly impact infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who support them.

Take action now! Tell your Members of Congress to protect all parts of IDEA: https://exceptionalchildren.org/lac?vvsrc=/Campaigns/123273/Respond

22/05/2025

We love watching our fabulous graduate students shine! 🌞⭐️

Hoping your day is as sweet as can BEE 🌼

19/05/2025

"While no specific cuts to the Part C program have been announced yet, Congress will be contemplating proposals to whittle down annual allocations and a possible reduction to Medicaid payments — both of which help prop up early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act."

Read more about the pressures and threats that IDEA early intervention services are facing: https://ow.ly/FyfF50VOtMe

13/05/2025

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20/02/2025

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